Vauxhall Astra 1.4T review

How important is this car? The Vauxhall/Opel Astra represents about 30 per cent of the company's total annual sales, and the five-door about 45 per cent of that figure. So no pressure, then, especially with everyone – from potential buyer Magna, to the German, British, Spanish and Belgian governments which will underwrite a €4.5 billion loan, to the EU Commission looking for signs of rule-breaking, to the trade unions whose members will suffer the mooted 10,000 job losses – poring over this loss-making company's books.

This is the 10th generation of mid-sized cars from Opel since the 1936 Kadett and the fifth-generation Vauxhall Astra. It's also fair to say that such is the previous success of this C-sector car in Britain that, for the rest of the non-Astra-owning public, this car is day-to-day scenery.

So we're happy to report it's pretty good-looking. Briton Mark Adams and his team have penned elegant coachwork, slightly bigger outside than the outgoing model, much bigger inside and with more luggage space. The new Astra will be pushed as a German car that also appeals to the emotions.

In its build quality and appearance, the five-door hits that spot – we also got a sneak preview of the three-door and, believe us, it's going to blow your socks off.

In the cabin, the first thing you notice is the comfort of the seats; both supportive and cossetting, even in standard cars. Vauxhall interiors have been high quality, pleasant environments for some years and the Astra is no exception.

It's been given a total makeover, of course, but it's a measure of just how seriously the company takes its customers that the ergonomics team was given a list of an Astra owner's typical possessions and any storage space that couldn't accommodate the apple, CD, water bottle, map and so on was changed until it could.

The company claims a class-leading range of adjustment for the seats, and we've no reason to doubt that. More important is the level of interior accommodation, which is generous. The Astra is a family car in more than just name these days. Standard equipment depends on which level of trim of course, but front and side airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners, a predicted five-star NCAP crash rating and Isofix child seat mountings are standard. Options include adaptive lighting, a heated steering wheel and a speed-limit sign recognition system which displays the limit on the dash.

The Astra rides well and handles beautifully. The steering is the best in the Vauxhall range by a country mile and the car is relaxing to drive over long distances. Our only complaint is that the Flexride adjustable dampers seem to bracket the ideal setting between Sport and Touring modes. The brakes also deserve a special mention, being powerful and with a fine feel to the pedal for smooth stopping.

For the launch, the engine choice is pared down to three diesels and two petrol engines. Diesels are a 1.7-litre with 109bhp or 123bhp, both giving the same 49.6mpg in the EU Urban cycle, or a 158bhp 2.0-litre capable of 44.1mpg. Petrols are a brand-new 138bhp 1.4-litre turbo that gives 36.2mpg, and a 177bhp 1.6 turbo capable of 32mpg. Transmissions include five and six-speed manuals and six-speed automatics.

Great hopes are invested in the 1.4-litre petrol turbo and around town it is impressive off the mark, smooth and refined. When the roads open out it is less impressive, however. You need to use the revs to maintain performance but the power delivery feels flat and lifeless at high revs.

By contrast the 1.6-litre turbo pulls from low down the rev range and there's a fine spread of pulling power so in most cases you merely put your foot down to increase speed without being forced to swap gears.

After the 1.6T engine, the 1.7-litre turbodiesel feels harsh and noisy, although it isn't particularly bad-mannered by contemporary standards. It pulls gruffly from absurdly low revs and although its acceleration from a standstill is slower than the turbo petrols, it doesn't feel it.